It started with a word

This case was featured in Community Care, the Youthwork magazine for Social Workers! How would you feel as a youth worker if this happened to you?

The names of all service users mentioned in this article have been changedCase notes

PRACTITIONERS: Luke Matthews, social worker, and Mark St-John, community midwife.
FIELD: Child protection.
LOCATION: Carmarthenshire, Wales.
CLIENT: Miriam Theotokos, 14, was heavily pregnant with baby Josh.
CASE HISTORY: Miriam was previously unknown to social services. Indeed, she also seemed to be unknown to the educational and welfare system. Despite having no money she was travelling in late September with her companion, Joey Woodman, 37, to a village in Carmarthenshire. Woodman denied that the child was his, saying he "wouldn't dream of such a thing". Given Miriam's age, if Woodman were the father, it would have been a police matter (as she would have been 13 at the time of conception, around the previous Christmas). They travelled by Virgin Trains to Cardiff and then, without tickets, boarded a local train. Although not far from their destination the conductor refused to allow them to continue their journey. They walked and hitched a ride before arriving at Llandeilo.
DILEMMA: Woodman appeared very caring towards Miriam although he said he was not the father nor a family member and had no legal responsibilities for her.
RISK FACTOR: A baby delivered to a 14-year-old mother away from home brought attendant risks to both.
OUTCOME: Miriam kept Josh. She later married Woodman with whom she would have four other sons and two daughters. She became an influential member of the International Society of Infant Studies (Isis).

You can read the case notes here